Some recipes are quick to whip up and home runs every time, and this Chicken Florentine recipe checks both of those boxes. It elevates boring chicken breast and bland spinach into a dinner the entire family will love. Check out the recipe video to see how it’s made step by step.
Quick Keto Dinners
When you’ve had a busy day and all you want to do is whip up a quick keto dinner the first thing that should come to mind is a cream sauce. Our favorite high fat sauces for quick meals are usually made from heavy cream or canned coconut milk. You can then add any meat, veggies and spices and you’ll have an easy keto dinner made in under 30 minutes!
Make An Easy Base
An easy base is anything that is quick to whip up and something you can add toppings and/or filling to. Some examples are:
- A base of sautéed veggies,
- A chicken crust pizza, or
- A mixture of heavy cream, minced garlic and butter heated through in a large skillet (our personal favorite)
For this recipe we go the route of a creamy base, in which the chicken can cook through without drying out. It’s also easy to add in any vegetables you want for extra texture and nutrition and we go the route of spinach not only because it cooks down really quickly, but because it adds a subtle flavor of fresh greens!
Use Minimal Ingredients
Due to the base being so indulgent and creamy you can keep the ingredients minimal. We not only kept it minimal, but also very traditional for this easy florentine recipe with chicken and spinach! Keeping the add-ins minimal, anywhere from two to three, as we have done here allows you to enjoy the flavors that each ingredient brings to the dish.
Tender chicken, fresh spinach and the combination of heavy cream, fresh minced garlic and a splash of white wine complement each other perfectly. Something we opted not to use, but can easily be added is xanthan gum to create a thicker base. The only thing I caution with this ingredient is going overboard. A little bit goes a long way!
Double The Batch For Leftovers
If you’re cooking something as delicious as a low carb chicken florentine then you might as well double the batch for leftovers tomorrow. Since the ingredients, cook time and clean up are all minimal doubling up the recipe will provide the perfect meal prep for the rest of the week. It also reheats well, keeping the chicken tender and flavors strong!
Looking For More Easy Dinners?
Easy is our specialty. We all have busy lives and most weeknights we are looking for something quick to whip up with whole ingredients so we don’t have to resort to take out. Some of our favorites meals to whip up are:
- Keto Chicken Thighs in a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
- Keto Chicken Saag paired with our Low Carb Naan, and
- Low Carb Grits with Blackened Shrimp
Give them all a try this week. You never know which easy keto dinner will become your families new favorite go to for busy weeknights!
Recipe can be quickly added to MyFitnessPal – Search “KetoConnect – Chicken Florentine”
Creamy Spinach Chicken Florentine
What You Need:
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 tsp pink himalayan salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 small red onion
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/3 cup dry white wine (we like to use sauvignon blanc)
- 4 cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tbsp of olive oil.
- Butterfly the chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Add the breasts to the hot skillet and saute on both sides until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Chicken should be light golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- Add the garlic, butter, and red onion to the pan. Cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Add the wine to the skillet (feel free to substitute with broth). Let it simmer and reduce 2-3 minutes. Add the spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and add heavy cream. Stir using a wooden spoon. If desired, add additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet and simmer for 2-3 minutes until heated through. Flip the chicken in the sauce to coat. Serve immediately.
- Best stored in a air tight container in the fridge up to 5 days.
Video:
Notes
Written by
Megha Barot
Megha has always been a passionate cook, but she took this to a new level after starting her keo journey in 2015. She loves creating new recipes and producing educational content for KetoConnect, which she co-founded in 2016 with Matt. Her passion for healthy eating and personal development continues to thrive. She's the proud mom of two awesome kids.
I love this easy recipe! Chicken comes out so juicy and all the flavors mesh. So easy to alter too. I make it with chicken broth and sometimes mix up the veggies.
(Creamy Spinach Chicken Florentine) I want to ask what can i add instead of white wine, I’m Muslim and i really want to make this recipe.
You can leave it out, or add some broth!
I used chicken thighs came out good. Need more salt but I liked it.
This was amazing! I did need to go rewatch the YouTube video because the recipe calls for butter. In the directions above that step is missing. Maybe an edit of 3.5 to say, “add butter to pan,” would be helpful. My partner (who is learning to ‘tolerate’ meat) absolutely loved this dish and wants me to make it again! Thank you for all that you do!
This was awesome. The second time I cooked it i used shrimp
This was delicious, the flavor was outstanding. I did mine with a decent bottle of wine (Rodney Strong) and it came out great. The kids ate it up!
So glad you liked it!
I have made this. It is delicious! I added sliced button mushrooms, too!
can you use canned coconut cream instead of coconut milk?
I started this plan and bought many staples flour and sweeteners, salt, and unfortunately I needed emergency spinal surgery which prevented me to stand and prepare meals.
I would like to donate all these to someone able to uset hem.Any suggestions??
I made this for my hubs and I, but added leftover roasted broccoli with the spinach and it was absolutely delicious. This will be on our rotational dinner menu. It’s so easy too!
Love to hear this!
It was simple to make and a great alternative to just baked chicken. I used chicken broth instead of wine. I can’t wait to make it again with shrimp! Great idea.
Made this tonight. It was wonderful and so simple. I added the butter when I added the stock( no wine for me).
Thanks for this, I can see it in heavy rotation at my house.
You mention 4 tablespoons of butter in your ingredients list for the Chicken florentine, but you fail to mention it in your recipe. Can you clarify when to add the butter? thanks for your wonderful recipes!
Sorry about that! The butter is added to the pan after you remove the chicken and right before you add the onion and garlic. See the video at the 2:06 mark for more info!
I had a big meeting yesterday and made this chicken florentine in a real hurry before leaving and let me tell you when I tasted it after getting home and reheating I think I fell in love, it was an explosion of flavor in my mouth,absolutely scrumptious!
So glad!!!
I did my own research on whether alcohol “evaporates” or “burns” out when cooking. This is only one instance that supports my view.
“You need to cook a sauce for at least 20 to 30 seconds after adding wine to it to allow the alcohol to evaporate. Since alcohol evaporates at 172°F (78°C), any sauce or stew that is simmering or boiling is certainly hot enough to evaporate the alcohol.” as sited on https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AlcoholEvap.htm
For those of us who are committed to serving a safe meal to children or a pregnant or breastfeeding mother, will take the time to meet the requirements to cook the alcohol out.
I do get a kick out of your commentary though! ?
Big Fan!
I didn’t see where to use the butter. I took it upon myself to add it when I added the cream.
Just received a big box of spinach didn’t know what to do with it, I will be making this sounds delicious!!!
for a few years I have made my fave Italian lasagna with chicken and white sauce. last xmas I was forced to think of something else because I was then doing Keto. but all my guests have told me they miss the lasagna. I am thinking that this is perfect with: zucchini lasagne, ground chicken and chopped spinach and some stock to spread it out.. I would add a touch of powdered mustard &or nutmeg to make it authentic.
Hi
This sounds delicious. I’m going to try this with boneless chicken thighs. Not a breast fan. Tends to be too dry. Thanks for the great recipe.
Niiiiiiiiice…will make…
???
This recipe looks fabulous!! Only suggestion I would make is to remind people to use good great tasting wine when you are cooking. It really affects the taste of your meal. If you wouldn’t drink it, do not cook with it!